Portishead, known locally as Posset, is a town a few miles from Bristol, on the banks of the Severn Estuary in North Somerset. It was in the county of Somerset for many years until boundary changes placed it in the new county of Avon until this was dissolved in 2000s. It has long been an important place because of its position on the estuary and has grown over the years from its origins as a fishing port.
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Black Nore (now decommissioned, built in 1894)
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It is
a lovely town and has an interesting history. The Severn estuary is a tidal river with the second highest tides in the world. The
whole area is dominated by the water and the RNLI have recently taken
over the independent life boat that for many years worked
from Sugar Loaf bay in the west of the town. The main beach at Kilkenny Bay beach is muddy with salt marsh covered in tough grasses. In this area are also the lido, an esplanade and the lake Grounds, both very popular places with locals and visitors alike. Over the hill, there is a pier that juts out into the water, built
for steamer passengers to board. There was hopes of transatlantic travel but
this is one dream of Brunels that did not come to fruition. The pier and
the Royal Hotel remain, a grand building with views over the river and
across to Wales. This bit of water is known as the King Road and is well known amongst shipping for it's challenging conditions.
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Sunset over the estuary
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There
are two lighthouses along the coastline, Black Nore, now decomissioned and
Battery Point which is officially known as Portishead Point
lighthouse and is still very much in active use marking a dangerous part
of a very busy shipping channel. This is the point in the UK where merchant shipping comes closest to the land and there
is a monument to merchant sailors marking this looking over the water. It is
called Battery Point because of use since Elizabethan times as a protective battery
guarding the channel and the cities higher up the river from invasion. There are tales of a submarine that came up the channel during the second world war, nosing its way along the
seashore.
At the northern end of the town are the deep water docks that were used by ships supplying
the power station and chemical works such as Albright and Wilson.Shipments
of phosphorous would be brought in here and there are many traces of
the towns industrial past still visible including statues representing
the matchmaking factory
and Mustads nail factory. The big shipping locks have now
been adjusted to allow for smaller pleasure craft to use them and the area has been redeveloped into a lovely marina
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Portishead marina lock
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Portishead radio is a name recognised world wide. It provided a vital service broadcasting
to, and receiving messages from shipping all over the world. The masts could
be seen from miles away. Technology moved on over time with radios being replaced mainly by IMMARSAT and the station finally closed in April 2000. There are several reminders of its role in the town with a
road named Marconi road and a statue called the Arc of angels representing the
masts of the old radio station and the coming together of a new community in
the area as the town continues to grow and change.
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Battery Point
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*I've got some better photos somewhere but can't find them. When I do, I'll replace some of these dodgy ones.
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